Merritt Sanford Lovelace, Jr., 82, a long time Mount Vernon resident, died at his home in Mount Vernon on May 2, 2002. He was born in Portland, Ore., on July 10, 1919, to Merritt and Alta Brown Lovelace. He was married to Tryntje “Tina” Reinstra in Blanchard on July 26, 1937. The family came to this area in 1940 and lived in Oak Harbor and Mount Vernon since then. Mr. Lovelace entered the United States Navy during World War II and served overseas in the South Pacific and in the Orient during the Korean Conflict. He served in the LST fleet, serving as a boatswain’s mate and was discharged in 1946. Mr. Lovelace was employed as a truck driver; he had driven for Home Transfer, Youngquist Trucking, cement trucking for the building of Diablo Dam, and Stokely VanCamp, retiring from trucking in 1978. He had been awarded many times for his safe driving and had driven millions of miles. Sandy enjoyed the outdoors in golfing, camping, traveling and also enjoyed stained glass creations he made.

Survivor are: his wife Tina of Mount Vernon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Michael Boling of Mount Vernon and Karen LeAnne and Wally Kropf of Canby, Ore.; one son, Sanford Lee Lovelace of Perris, Calif.; a brother, Art Lovelace of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren, Kandace and husband Dean Watkins of Mount Vernon, Jason Kropf of Portland, Ore., and Khyra Kropf of Canby, Ore.; four great-grandchildren, Colby and Halei Lovelace Watkins and Trenton and Jordan Kropf, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. His parents preceded him in death. Memorial services were held at Kern Funeral Chapel, Mount Vernon, on May 7, with the Rev. Wayne Stiles officiating. Cremation was held uner the direction of Kern Funeral Home. Inurnment will be in the family plot at Mount Vernon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Skagit Hospice, P.O. Box 1376, Mount Vernon 98273 or American Cancer Society, 728 134th St SW No. 101, Everett 98204 or Virginia Mason Hospital, 925 Seneca Street, Seattle 98111.